Moving to Decatur, IL (Chicago, Bloomington: neighborhood, movies, schools)

[greenlake]

Decatur Il is no differant than any other city in central Il. I have lived in Decatur for 56 years and have never been raped or robbed, beat up or knocked down..I have 2 daughters who went 8 years to Lutheran School and 4 years to Catholic High School.. Both are now professionals. I started my own business in Decatur and never once thought about moving it to Springpatch, Chambana or Bloomington..I awake in the morning to the birds singing, not caughing as others have said. Now and then I smell ADM and Staleys..It is the smell of money...Show me a state who wouldn't like to have an ADM in their city limits...We have 2 colleges and many Churches and schools..We are a progressive city and you will like it here..

[Drover]

OK, I'm glad you like your city and it's nice you have a positive outlook, but I draw the line at "progressive." Decatur is to "progressive" as Barney Frank is to "alpha male."

[greenlake]

Mt Zion had great schools and you can still live in Decatur's nicer areas and be in Mt. Zion school district..Tell your Realitor to show you the Bay Shore area that is in the Mt. Zion School district..In general, Decatur is like any other city of it's size anywhere.

[MisterTwisty]

Greenlake:

I'm glad you've had success with your business in Decatur - and that you feel at home there. QUESTIONS: I'm curious to know, seeing as how you're an ACTUAL resident who ACTUALLY is involved with your community:

What do you see in downtown Decatur, in the local business sector? All death and decay everywhere? Or is the scene more hopeful than that?

Please, anyone who operates or works for an independent Decatur business, or people who work for upstart corporations in Decatur - you're welcome to sound off about the economic climate there!

Some posters seem to want to claim Decatur is nearly unihabitable, or that it was inhabitable 30 years ago, yet somehow hasn't been since. No real explanations there, just some threadbare chant about industry that closed years ago (isn't that true everywhere?), sprinkled with bigotted, garbage propaganda about the schools there being "bad" - and about how the downtown is "dead."

Greenlake: You're one who's saying Decatur's becoming "progressive." Good for you, I say. Let others who are half-interested and half-informed make easy jokes and take cheap potshots at your town and your views on progress. I say you've got a winning attitude - and I hope your ideas win.

[217 to 614]

Can't let this disrespect for my city go on any longer lol

Decatur isn't THAT bad. Ideal areas: up north, South Shores, Baker Woods(by airport), and the FAAARRRR west end towards Kiwanas Park.

[217 to 614]

Originally Posted by greenlake

Decatur Il is no differant than any other city in central Il. I have lived in Decatur for 56 years and have never been raped or robbed, beat up or knocked down..I have 2 daughters who went 8 years to Lutheran School and 4 years to Catholic High School.. Both are now professionals. I started my own business in Decatur and never once thought about moving it to Springpatch, Chambana or Bloomington..I awake in the morning to the birds singing, not caughing as others have said. Now and then I smell ADM and Staleys..It is the smell of money...Show me a state who wouldn't like to have an ADM in their city limits...We have 2 colleges and many Churches and schools..We are a progressive city and you will like it here..

[twinsondifferentmother]

I was born and raised in Decatur. Grew up on the west side a couple of blocks from Millliken University and Fairview Park. I went to Dennis Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Jr. High, and MacArthur High School. Every Sunday morning we awoke to the bells of Westminster calling us to church and when the when was blowing east to west you could smell ADM and Staley's from across town. I loved living on the west side and I have happy childhood memories of growing up in Decatur, IL. But the truth of the matter is that Decatur IS a dying town and has been for many years. I no longer live there but my family still does and every time I visit I am saddened by what I see. A thriving small town city that once had a population of over 100,000 about 25 years ago now has a population of just over 80,000. The city seems to be just barely hanging on as the schools get worse and new business seem to avoid it like the plague. I am all for civic pride but it shouldn't cloud the fact that Decatur isn't what is was in the past and it's future doesn't look so bright.

[mcgraw1]

I agree. I grew up in Macon, but have lived in MI for 19 years now. Decatur was the place to go when I was a kid. I am the only one in my family that has moved away and I get back 3-4 times a year. I live 20 minutes away from Benton Harbor, MI - -ring a bell? Jesse Jackson has been here too. Everytime I go back it reminds me of Benton Harbor, MI. The outlying towns are great. Macon wasn't Meridian then and I went to Purdue graduating from Macon. But if I had to live in Decatur, I'd have to send my kids to St. Theresa (sp? Teresa?) probably. Macon High School was the reason I chose to live in the town I live in - the school is small, like Macon / Meridian and the educators are excellent. I still read the Herald and Review and Tribune and it just doesn't seem to be progressing the way some of the advocates would have you believe. There are a million "Decaturs" across the country though so it isn't alone. I think it is struggling and trying to make progress but one step forward takes two steps back it seems. Thank goodness it has ADM - it employees 3 of my family members right now.

[04JETTA]

Would recomend Bloomington as well

[doll lady]

Originally Posted by 217 to 614

Can't let this disrespect for my city go on any longer lol

Decatur isn't THAT bad. Ideal areas: up north, South Shores, Baker Woods(by airport), and the FAAARRRR west end towards Kiwanas Park.

I really admire you for standing up for your community. Keep in mind that usually the comments which are the worse, are from persons who really know nothing or at least very little about the area, just want to make degrading comments and to rile the poster. Decatur is a nice mid-Illinois city, known for its factories and blue collar workers. There is NOTHING wrong with that. Keep on supporting your community...it's what makes progress shine as we mid-Illinois people know how to make it shine. :>)